New Delhi: As Shubman Gill prepares to lead India in his captaincy debut during the five-Test series against England, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has offered valuable advice and a show of support. Tendulkar, speaking exclusively to PTI, urged fans and critics to give the 25-year-old time and backing as he takes charge of a relatively inexperienced Indian side amid a significant transition in Test cricket.
India begins a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle in Leeds without the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have retired from Test cricket. In this context, Tendulkar emphasized the importance of Gill staying true to the team’s internal strategies rather than getting swayed by external noise.
“There will be a lot of opinions—‘he should do this, or that’—but what he really needs to focus on is the team’s plan,” said Tendulkar. “What was discussed in the dressing room? Are the decisions being made in the team’s interest? That’s all that matters, not what the outside world thinks.”
The cricket icon, who has 51 Test centuries to his name, further added that being Indian captain is a pressure-filled job, but Gill must develop a tunnel vision and trust his process. “The human mind will always try to influence, but you have to stay grounded in what your team believes.”
Drawing from his own experience of playing five Test series in England between 1990 and 2011, Tendulkar stressed that batters must be flexible in adapting their techniques based on the conditions. “It cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. You need to respect the conditions and be ready to tweak your game. Those who remain rigid often pay the price,” he said.
He urged Indian batters to develop the ability to “know when to defend and when to attack,” pointing out that this awareness stems from respecting the pitch and weather conditions—especially vital in England’s dynamic environment.
Despite the challenges ahead, Tendulkar expressed optimism about India’s young bench strength. He highlighted that players like Karun Nair and B Sai Sudharsan, although yet to make their Test debut in England, have valuable county cricket experience, having represented Northamptonshire and Surrey respectively.
“They may not have played international cricket in England, but they have experience of these conditions. Combine that with matches played in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, and they’ll be well-equipped,” he added.
As Leeds experiences an unusually warm June, discussions have surfaced about India potentially fielding two spinners. Tendulkar noted that such a decision should depend entirely on pitch conditions.
“If there isn’t much grass and the surface looks dry, then yes, India could consider playing two spinners. Otherwise, I don’t see that happening,” he said. He added that Ravindra Jadeja is likely to be the first-choice spin option, with names like Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav in contention depending on the final surface assessment.
Tendulkar fondly recalled two of his most cherished innings on English soil: his maiden Test century in Manchester in 1990, and his 193-run knock at Headingley in 2002, which played a crucial role in securing a win for India.
“Manchester was special because it was my first hundred, and it helped us save the Test. The Headingley knock was memorable because of the tough conditions—it was cold, damp, and not sunny like it is now,” he reflected.
As Shubman Gill takes charge in this new era of Indian cricket, the message from Tendulkar is clear: stay focused on the team’s vision, adapt wisely, and trust your instincts.
